This Super-Cozy Home in the Niagara Region Has Seven Different Wallpapers

Marcella grew up in the Niagara region, so she feels right at home in her Craftsman-inspired pad, which was built in 1928. The three-bedroom dwelling was previously owned by a Toronto-based real estate agent. It was fine but needed personality. “I did the painting, wallpapering, decorating and we just built an addition last year that added 400 square feet,” says Marcella. The house is now 1,800 square feet.

Some of Marcella’s signature moves are writ large in the living room. She loves Windsor chairs. They’re in the dining room next door, too. And she’s into portraiture. “I got the girl painting off of Etsy. We both laughed because it looks like me as a kid!,” she says referring to her main squeeze, Justin Jones. Plush textiles are also a fixture throughout the home, adding a cozy feel. We’re talking to you cushy knot, sheep and geometric blanket.

“I love Windsor chairs. I think they are so so timeless,” says Marcella. “These ones are a modern twist made from solid maple. I love the quality and handmade nature of them. I always try to invest in pieces that will never date.” The wallpaper subtly warms up the space. “I haven’t always been a wallpaper fan,” says Marcella. “I felt this house looked like it needed it. I decorate for the house. This has so much character. It screams wallpaper!”

Here’s another one of those old-timey clocks Marcella is fond of. Naturally, she’s got wallpaper in the kitchen, too. Most of the wallpaper in Marcella’s home is muted and mellow, lending cohesion. This soothing pastoral print, depicting a farmhouse scene, is Gable by Farrow & Ball, and suits the house’s vintage.

These pretty pendants look like inverted coupe glasses. “I think we changed every light fixture in the house. They were very traditional silver,” says Marcella. “I wanted gold to modernize them. I like the mix of modern against an old backdrop.” The lower wood cubby, meanwhile, replaced a dishwasher. “I got rid of it. And I’m a recipe developer,” says Marcella. “We never used it. We forgot it existed.” (We’re as stunned as you, readers! Good on you, Marcella.)

“My Lacanche stove is my big love,” says Marcella, who spotted the premium hunk in a showroom in Toronto and changed her mind about buying an ivory-coloured one, which is totally out of character for her. “With its gold knobs, it was so beautiful and I figured a stove should stand out.”

The previous owner bumped the kitchen out to accommodate a bathroom. “There wasn’t one on the main floor,” says Marcella. Basic, with a pedestal sink and beadboard wall, Marcella went to town jazzing up the loo. The vanity resembles a beautiful dresser, while gold accents in the plumbing fixtures, mirror and sconces bring on the glam.

The extremely plush Ethnicraft sofa is a showstopper and yet its low profile keeps the space feeling open. “We love that it’s modular, so I can rearrange it when shooting,” says Marcella.

The scalloped tiles look low key enough, but Marcella reveals they were a pain to install. No one wanted to do the job. The first five rows actually had to be torn out because they looked wonky. “It was the most stressful part of the addition,” she says, though she loves the way they turned out. Marcella crushed hard for years on the rocking chair from Stylegarage before buying it.

Marcella’s home office sees a lot of action. “I do a lot of editing here,” she says. “Since Covid, my partner is also working from home.” (Read: so the space has to be a perfect retreat.) The Crate & Barrel desk has a vintage vibe that matches the house’s aesthetic. The wallpaper is Samphire by Farrow & Ball.

Surround yourself with pieces you love for an inspiring work day. Cute plush figures line the shelf, and perfectly coordinates with the other accessories including a set of houses and cameras. The grey and mustard combo is carried throughout Marcella’s home.

The snuggle factor is real in the couple’s bedroom. Plush bedding in pink and grey hues gives it that fat-bed feel. The pink bedding is from Rough Linen and the grey linen quilt is from Rejuvenation. The wool throw is Røros Tweed through Design Within Reach. Meanwhile, soft grey Aranami by Farrow & Ball wallpaper adds interest to the panelled walls.

“My mom got the alpaca on a trip to South America. Everyone knows I have a love of wools,” says Marcella.

Soft pink Blostma wallpaper by Farrow & Ball line the guest room’s walls. The print showcases a flurry of falling petals. “The styling is super cozy and warm,” says Marcella, which is exactly what a guest room should be. The Nordic blanket in mustard is from Pottery Barn. It meshes beautifully with the giant felt knot from Design Within Reach and navy pillows.

Dresserscapes are successful, rather than disorderly, if you play around with height and variety. Small groupings – the trio of vases on the stacked books – and the wispy branches create drama and interest. The lamp has an intriguing silhouette that just works. And how about that sloth for quirk?

You wouldn’t think these two prints work together, but they do. Matchy-matchy is so predictable. This is adventurous in its abandon. The wallpaper is Yukutori by Farrow & Ball. “We wanted to bring in a more cozy, vintage feel with the runner on the stairs,” says Marcella.